NCP into NDA: Leaders turn wordsmiths
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
January 10, 2004
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Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray

• December 31, 2003
"I will take a final decision after consulting my workers."

But drops enough hints that he is not averse to the idea of
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joining the National Democratic
Alliance (NDA).

• January 1, 2004
"I will come to a final decision after consulting my son Uddhav and
other party functionaries. But the NCP, with Chhagan Bhujbal in the
party, is not welcome."

This led to speculation that an eager Pawar may drop Bhujbal, and
that the party will run into the open arms of the NDA. There were
also some reports suggesting a possible revolt by Bhujbal and some
other NCP leaders.

• January 8, 2004
"Sharad Pawar's overall politics has been of a selfish nature. He
doesn't have a consistent policy. We cannot have an alliance with
him."

This statement by Thackeray poured water on Mahajan's plans to rope
in the NCP. While Thackeray may claim the decision was entirely his
own, sources claim Uddhav vetoed the `Grand Alliance' plan.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar

• December 24, 2003
"NCP is ready to keep aside the issue of foreign origin of Sonia
Gandhi. We have already started the process of talks with the
Congress for a pre-poll alliance."

After this, everyone from the Congress and the NCP assumed the
alliance between the two parties was almost cemented.

• December 31, 2003: "This is the height of yellow journalism. Is
this a trailer of what the media is going to do in the new year?"

This comment by Pawar in a Marathi newspaper led his colleagues to
believe that the reports of a BJP-NCP-Sena alliance were nothing but
rumours. State president R R Patil told mediapersons that the BJP
was trying to mislead people by spreading malicious reports.

• January 2, 2004
"No party is untouchable. We have kept open all three options: Going
with NDA, joining the Third Front or having an arrangement with
Congress."

This was a real shock for many of Pawar's own activists and Patil
had a tough time explaining Pawar's stand to the media.

• January 6, 2004: "There was not even a hint or suggestion of a
discussion with the BJP over the alliance. So it is wrong to say
that our talks derailed over seat sharing."

Pawar said this to a Marathi newspaper. This was a complete
turnaround from his statement on January 2.

BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan

• January 6, 2004
"I think it is difficult to take the plan to fruition given the
problems in seat sharing."

This was the only public statement Mahajan made during the whole
exercise, but he was busy in behind-the-scene work even after this.

NCP leader P A Sangma told the media that after Mahajan's statement,
there were several developments and that the NDA option was still
open.

NCP's hopes of joining the NDA ended after Thackeray came out
strongly and openly against the alliance.

http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/january/73470.htm